Legendary Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni is all set to play his last Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Just when the whispers of retirement were growing louder, MS Dhoni has confirmed to his close ones that he is gearing up to extend his fairytale career into the IPL 2026.
The 44-year-old iconic Indian legend is rewriting the rulebook of longevity in cricket. For the last couple of years, there have been massive speculations around the CSK legend’s retirement, but he kept the suspense alive even during the last IPL season earlier this year.
MS Dhoni gears up for one last roar in the IPL.
He maintained that his fitness will decide his IPL future. Now, Dhoni’s close ones confirmed that the former Indian captain is not going to say goodbye to the game as long as the body holds up, but the upcoming IPL 2026 can be his last season as a player.
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As reported by Telecom Asia Sport, MS Dhoni has already started preparing for his grand farewell in 2026. Sources close to the legendary cricketer say fans around the world will witness one of the most emotional sporting send-offs in history in the IPL 2026.
Since the inception of the league in 2008, Dhoni has been the identity of the Chennai Super Kings. From five IPL titles to countless unforgettable finishes, he has created a fan base that worships him as “Thala.” But now he is preparing both “physically and mentally” for his “farewell season.”
MS Dhoni pushes limits for farewell IPL season
The report further revealed that Dhoni has redoubled his training efforts recently, sticking to a rigorous routine including gym work, skill-based drills, and recovery sessions. Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, he has refused to slow down.
The legendary cricketer said that he will keep fighting on the field as long as his body doesn’t give in. While nothing is officially confirmed, sources believe that IPL 2026 will almost certainly be Dhoni’s last dance. If true, his every move will make his fans emotional in the next season.
Notably, Dhoni had scored 196 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 135.17 in the IPL 2025, where he mainly batted at No. 7 or 8 for CSK. He also led the side in the middle of the season due to an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
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How MS Dhoni tested Ravichandran Ashwin before turning him into a star
Meanwhile, former CSK batter Anirudhha Srikkanth has recently recalled how Dhoni’s decisions tested the young off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to the limit. On Ashwin’s debut in Cape Town against the Mumbai Indians, Dhoni opted to rotate Manpreet Gony, Thilan Thushara, Andrew Flintoff, Jacob Oram, and Joginder Sharma, leaving Ashwin on the bench.
Even after the loss, Dhoni kept Ashwin on the bench for the next 13 matches in his maiden season. Even in 2010, Dhoni’s selections restricted Ashwin to just two outings in the first seven games during a turbulent run for CSK. But Dhoni changed his stance after Ashwin’s four-wicket haul, and the latter went on to become one of IPL’s greatest transformations.
